smile :: the wolfman family (again)

in the time since i last photographed this family, we've had the opportunity to grow in relationship in a multifaceted way. mark has become our family chiropractor, janelle helps us think through administrative aspects of tim's work with the stockbridge boiler room, and through these connections -- and our shared desire to see kingdom come through our respective work -- affection has blossomed into friendship. these people are very dear. 

it was the loveliest way to spend a September morning chasing them and their adorable kiddos around barefoot on the beach in holland, watching them cuddle and play and love on one another with such sincerity. 

blessed to know them. and if you need a fantastic chiropractor and wellness educator, go see Dr. Mark and his team at Rivertown Family Chiropractic. 

smile :: the v-b family

harrison's mommy and daddy met at aquinas when they were undergrad psychology students. they brought him back there to do this photo session of him at 9 months old. i wager he's their proudest accomplishment and greatest joy.

this family also opted to make me their photographer, which means i have 5 years of fun ahead of me, watching them grow. 

smile :: the phelps family

if you put 5 boys near a river and walls of rocks for their family photos, they will find dead crayfish and climb those walls and disappear around bends in the path. and so that's what happened here, when we chose a park with those features as a family photo location. and you know what? i just loved that it brought out their boyish natures so clearly! 

still, we managed some solid family photos -- some in which all boys are smiling wonderfully at the camera! and some sweet ones of mom and dad, too. i'm showing you mostly the happy in-between moments below, with a smattering of portraits. :)

smile :: the ferris family

Anne and Andy have had me do a christmasy photo session for them twice before. It's always creative, with Anne having prepared simple props to bring along to christmas tree farms or nature centers. They've always been a combination of them enjoying an activity together AND stopping to smile at the camera while cuddled closely together. Always so fun, this meshing of photojournalism and portraits. 

This time around, we decide to do something similar indoors, at their own home. When I arrived, they already had one cookie sheet of from-scratch sugar cookies (with orange zest) baked, and were ready to frost them with peppermint frosting (after their daughter offered me one to devour right inside the front door). So we photographed the making of sugar cookies with green and red sprinkles, then they snacked on them beside their large and lovely tree. And, to round things out, we took a few solid portraits by that tree (including some cat-inclusive ones), and on their adorable couch. I love these shots of this creative, expressive, and warm family. 

This was so fun, that I'm consider offering holiday-season, in-home, mini-storytelling sessions centered around families doing christmasy things together (decorating a tree, baking cookies, cutting down a tree, sledding in the yard, sharing hot cocoa and cuddles, etc). That'd be fun, eh?

smile :: the hande-brouwer family

With the sun still low in the sky on this lovely august morning, we walked down to a meaningful section of the great lake's shoreline, enjoying the warm water occasionally splashing at our feet, the pastel light, and the sweet fellowship of a tiny girl with her mommy and daddy. 

Really, Lake Michigan. Could you be any more beautiful? 

Thanks so much, Ben, Sarah, and Gwen!

milk time :: breastfeeding portraits (part II)

Back in march, i stepped out and offered a specialized form of mini-session portraits that i had never done before : portraits of mamas with their nurslings. knowing how special and how fleeting a breastfeeding relationship is, i figured maybe other mamas would want it documented the way that i do! so, i partnered with midwife Sara at Cedar Tree Birth and Wellness, and we hosted this lovely event for 14 pairs of mamas and babies. it was so special. 

so we did it again, of course! this time around, a couple things were different. like, the room we used last time, which previously had a couch in it, was now filled with a gorgeous, inviting bed, giving the mamas the opportunity to recline or side-lie while nursing, or to sit in a rocking chair in that same private room. meanwhile, in the main rooms, women lingered, nursing their babies and chatting about motherhood and birth. there was so much lingering this time! all these women, who had never met before, all hit it off. for me, that was really rewarding to see, as i had hopes that this photo event would also invite a sense of community and support. 

so, without further ado, here's an image from each nursing pair who came out this past weekend. beauty upon beauty. 

thank you so much to every one of these mamas for letting me photograph you and your babies. it was a real joy.